Stories from Friday, November 20, 2015

JONATHON DAWE photo - jndawe@dailystatesman.com Dexter Alderman Tim Aslin went to the Dexter Municipal Building on Thursday to participate in the active shooting simulator being used by Dexter Police for training this week. Aslin said both Dexter Police Chief Sammy Stone and Lt. Josh Benton are to be commended for bringing the training simulator. Aslin said he would like to investigate what the cost would be to acquire a laser barrel for a weapon simulator to keep for future training purposes...

Dexter Police Nov. 19-20, 2015 At 8:26 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, Dexter Police arrested Robert S. Lutes, 53, of Dexter, on a warrant service. At 11:16 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, Dexter Police arrested Justin E. Davis, 34, of Perkins, And Garrett J. Mason, 28, of Oran, both on the charge of third-degree assault...

MIKE MCCOY -- mmccoy@dailystatesman.com Keller Public Library will hold its annual Used Book Sale Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Library Community Room. The sale this year will feature lots of children's books as well as best sellers and a large selection of non-fiction and fiction books. ...

SEMO News Service MINER, Mo. -- A Miner man faces charges for the murder of his parents. Thomas Wayne McRoy, 37, is charged with two felony counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of his parents, Larry McRoy, 62, and Roxann McRoy, 64, of Miner...

It was Dexter Police Officer Lori O'Dell's ninth and final D.A.R.E. graduation at the Bearcat Event Center this week. O'Dell will be leaving the local police force after a 16-year career in law enforcement to pursue a degree in forestry technology. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, a total of 150 fifth grade students received their D.AR.E. certificates, having completed the coursework to officially graduate from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Former Dexter High School Industrial Arts teacher Marti Pulliam, who was charged with the Class C felony of having sexual contact with a student, appeared in court at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17 with her attorney, but nothing was done...

Dozens of Missouri legislators have joined together in requesting that Gov. Jay Nixon block Syrian refugees from settling in the state. Rep. Tila Hubrecht is among those lawmakers. In addition to joining several lawmakers in their request, Hubrecht also penned a letter, which she sent to Nixon addressing her concerns...

The Dexter Cub Scouts distributed their Scouting for Food bags last Saturday, Nov. 14. This Saturday morning, Nov. 21, beginning at 9 a.m., the Scouts will be canvassing the city of Dexter to pick up the bags, hopefully filled with non-perishable items for the Gospel Rescue Mission...

Hunters in Stoddard County harvested 589 deer during the opening weekend of the fall firearms season, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). The firearm season opened Nov. 14 and runs through Nov. 24. Stoddard County hunters killed more deer on opening weekend than last year. The harvest last year for opening weekend was 514...

Dexter High School senior Lauren Thrower presented an inspirational message to fifth grade D.A.R.E. graduates during the Nov. 17 ceremony held at the Bearcat Event Center. Thrower later sang the song, "Hero" to the audience gathered for the ninth and final D.A.R.E. graduating class to have been instructed under Officer Lori O'Dell. See full story and photos from the D.A.R.E. graduation on page 13 of today's Daily Statesman...

DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter Bearcats wrestling program enters the 2015-16 season looking to build on last season's success after sending 11 wrestlers to the 2015 state wrestling tournament in February. "We are returning seven state qualifiers from last year," Dexter coach James Sneed said. "We had two state qualifiers move away - Jared Deal and Seth Rush. Losing them will hurt us a little bit, but I am expecting good things from the wrestlers we have coming back."...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Legislators from Southeast Missouri are firing back at the possibility of Syrian refugees entering the Show Me State following a statement by Gov. Jay Nixon that placed the issue solely on the federal government. Nixon's statement issued Monday, according to several house members, essentially took a hands-off approach to the issue. Nixon issued the statement following a move by a bipartisan group of 30 governors attempting to block resettlement...

It may not yet technically be winter, but with temperatures steadily dropping to freezing or below in the coming weeks, the Dexter Street Department is making sure it's prepared. "From what I can tell, we're right at the line of above average or below average temperatures for the winter," Street Department Supervisor Jeff Myers said. "Where we're positioned, it's pretty much impossible to know what to anticipate."...